Council weather update: 10.45am

Christchurch City Council staff and contractors
are responding to issues caused by heavy rainfall over the
past 24 hours.

A number of communities are isolated,
including Sumner and parts of Banks Peninsula. Teams are in
the area assessing the situation and will keep residents
informed. A full list of road closures is included
below.

Teams are working across the city assessing
the situation and contacting community groups in specific
areas for information. Residents in social housing
facilities are being contacted and offered support as
required.

Council warns that floodwaters are likely
to be contaminated and people should avoid contact. Anyone
who comes into contact with contaminated water should wash
their hands and remove and wash any clothing that gets
wet.

The Council is expecting 50 to 100 houses
across the city to be affected by flood-waters, with the
majority of them located in the Mairehau/Richmond/St Albans
area. Council staff are assisting residents with
self-evacuations.

The Council is urging drivers to
be extra vigilant and mindful while driving today. Speeding
causes large waves which worsen the effects of surface
flooding on properties.

The Council is advising
residents, if you don’t need to leave home today,
don’t.

Water supplyWater is being
trucked into Little River and we ask residents to conserve
water in Banks Peninsula.

Waste waterWe
expect to have isolated issues with wastewater systems. This
may cause issues with toilet flushing and we ask that
unnecessary flushing is avoided.

Welfare
CentreThe Council’s Welfare Centre at Mairehau
High School, 440 Hills Road, has been open all night and as
at 9am, nine residents have made use of the service. The
Welfare Centre at Mairehau High School will remain open
through the day as required. A review will be undertaken to
assess further needs of the community later this
afternoon.

In Little River, a number of people have
evacuated to the hall, where there has been no electricity
since yesterday afternoon. A generator is being sent and
welfare provisions delivered.

Property
damageFor people with property damaged by flooding,
please contact your insurer to discuss the options available
to them.Kerbside
collectionsNormal Wednesday waste collection is
still happening but is unlikely in many low-lying areas.
Bins will have tipped over and spilled their contents.
Contractors will be in the area over the next few days to
clean up.

Geotechnical teams monitoring hillside
areasGeotechnical engineers are out across the Port
Hills checking and monitoring known mass movement areas
following heavy rain.

Christchurch City Council has
asked engineers to check these areas and immediately advise
residents of any concerns about ground movement or slope
instability. Up to 20 geotechnical consultants have been
working since early this morning. Emergency procedures will
be followed if any issues of concern are found. They will
continue monitoring known risk areas throughout the day.

At this stage, the rainfall has only caused small
localised subsidence.

The Council is asking people
in hillside areas to be vigilant, and keep an eye out for
any telltale signs of mass movement, including:

-
New cracking to land, buildings, driveways or paths-
Existing cracks that get longer, wider or deeper-
Leaning or bulging of retaining walls-
Rockfalls

If you notice any changes, or have any
concerns, please call the Council’s call centre
on941 8999, or 0800 800 169.If you believe there is a risk to life, call 111
and self-evacuate.

CERATeams
from CERA are monitoring the situation in the Residential
Red Zone and have offered to assist people who needed to
evacuate.

Staff are also keeping watch for any
issues in areas of concern in the Port Hills.

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